Prevalence of multimorbidity according to the deprivation level among the elderly in the Basque Country.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multimorbidity is clearly a major challenge for healthcare systems. However, currently, its magnitude and impact on healthcare expenditures is still not well known. The objective of this paper is to present an overview of the prevalence of multimorbidity by deprivation level in the elderly population of the Basque Country.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis that included all the inhabitants of the Basque Country aged 65 years and over (N = 452,698). This was based on data from primary care electronic medical records, hospital admissions, and outpatient care databases, for a 4-year period. The health problems of the patients were identified from their diagnoses and prescriptions. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of two or more chronic disease

SUBMITTER: Orueta JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3852493 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature